WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 19, 2013) — This afternoon, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced deportation numbers for fiscal year 2013, which ended Sept. 30. Total deportations numbered 368,644.
However, tens of thousands of individuals who had no criminal conviction were deported from the United States. As noted in a newly updated National Immigration Forum policy paper released today, “An increasing number of states, counties, and localities are starting to reconsider how they respond to ICE detainers.”
The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:
“It’s clear that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is working to focus its resources on deporting criminals. We are encouraged that a higher proportion of deportees had criminal convictions.
“But ICE is still removing people with no criminal record who are just trying to build a life in America — including tens of thousands this past year. These numbers highlight the urgency for broad immigration reform from Congress that stresses accountability and moves our country forward. In 2014, leaders simply must follow through on a new immigration process that emphasizes security, freedom, opportunity and human dignity.”
